Sanibel Island measures roughly 12 miles long and five miles across at its widest. Little sister Captiva Island has more compact measurements of less than five miles long and ½ mile wide. The toll to cross the Sanibel Causeway is $6 per car when entering the island. Sanibel Island has two main roads that parallel each other. Periwinkle Way is the main business route. West of the causeway, it leads to the island’s shopping and dining. Follow it east and you’ll pass a quieter commercial section , ending up at the Sanibel Lighthouse and its beach. Gulf Drive, the other main route, roves past resorts, beaches, and homes at the water’s edge. It is segmented into East, Middle, and West Gulf Drive.

Sanibel-Captiva Road, known locally as San-Cap, passes by most of Sanibel’s natural attractions: J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation Center, the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum, and the Clinic for Rehabilitation of Wildlife (C.R.O.W.) facility. Tarpon Bay Road connects San-Cap Road with Periwinkle Way at its west end. Captiva Island is connected to its sister island by San-Cap Road. Once you cross the short bridge at scenic Blind Pass, the road becomes Captiva Drive. Follow it north and you’ll find two public beach accesses plus restaurants and shops. South Seas Resort , a private gated resort, occupies the northernmost part of the island.

Sanibel and Captiva have lovely public beaches. There are 5 accesses on Sanibel: The Lighthouse, Gulfside City Park, Tarpon Bay, Bowmans, and Blind pass. On Captiva there are 2 accesses, Blind Pass and Captiva Beach, located at the end of Captiva Dr. The fee for parking is $2.00 an hour.

Sanibel has 25 miles of paved bike paths starting at the Chamber of Commerce. They run parallel to most of the main roads and veer off to back roads and island landmarks. There are no bike paths on Captiva. Stop in the Chamber for a bike path map.

Old Town is a charming historical area on Sanibel Island found at the eastern end. The Sanibel Historical Society has produced a walking and biking tour that is approximately 2.5 miles long with over 19 sites to see. You can pick up a map at the Chamber or at the Historical Society.